Occupation of Azerbaijani lands gives nothing to Armenia

Armenia has caused damage to itself for 20 years, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov told media on Feb. 19.

"Armenia gained nothing by occupying Azerbaijani lands," he said. "One of the components of the Azerbaijani president's foreign policy is cooperation with neighbouring countries, namely Iran, Turkey, Russia and Georgia. Being Azerbaijan's enemy, Armenia is a neighbour. It is impossible to change it. But Armenia's leadership does not understand this as opposed to the Armenian people."

"We know that the Armenian people expect the conflict settlement to change the current position," Hasanov added.

Hasanov believes that Armenia's regime will not abandon the occupation as it formed its capital.

"If they refuse to face this problem, then their power will complete," he said.

"We have friendly, neighbourly relations with Turkey, Russia, Georgia and Iran," he said.

"Now it is Armenia's turn. Let it abandon its policy of occupation and join the neighbourhood."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.